Vol. 531 No. 3
364 Mr. Lawlor asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if, further to Parliamentary Question No. 137 of 30 November 2000, he will look again at the constraints placed upon asylum seekers by direct provision; if he will pro vide financial support to help in establishing English language classes for asylum seekers to assist them overcome their potentially isolated position; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5427/01]
The position regarding direct provision remains the same as outlined in my reply to Question No. 137 of 30 November 2000. I continue to believe that the system of direct provision represents a fair and effective means of meeting the basic needs of asylum seekers.
The situation regarding English language classes is that the children of asylum seekers are entitled to primary and post-primary education in the same way as Irish children. If they have significant English language deficits the school they are attending is entitled to additional teaching resources. The level of this support is dependent on the number of children of asylum seekers attending the school with significant English language deficits.
The Department of Education and Science provides annual grants to vocational education committees under the adult literacy and community education scheme (ALCES) for the provision of tuition in literacy and basic education to adults. They may use these grants to provide adult literacy and English language supports to asylum seekers. The Department of Education and Science is also supporting a pilot project initiated by the City of Dublin Vocational Education Committee (CDVEC) to assess what the level of language needs of asylum seekers are likely to be and to develop models as to how best to implement the arrangements and the Department of Education and Science, through the Refugee Language Support Unit, provides, on request, in service training for those teaching asylum seekers.
